Best Peninsula towns/neighborhoods? (San Francisco, Sunnyvale: apartments, rentals, houses)

[familymovewest]

Hi, I am considering a move from New York to take a job in Menlo Park, and don't have a strong sense of what the area is like. Is it possible to get a 2 BR for less than $2500 within 20 minutes of Menlo Park? Any recommendations for towns or specific neighborhoods? We have a new baby, so don't need a town with a booming nightlife or anything, but would to move somewhere safe and somewhat interesting.

From searching craigslist, it seems like most rentals in our budget are apartments, not houses (something of a disappointment) -- is that accurate?

Thanks for any tips!

[esamer90]

San Carlos is a really nice suburb, Belmont is also nice but a little bit cheaper. Redwood city is a bigger suburb and has a kinda busy downtown, but if you move to a quite neighborhood you should be fine. You can also go south to places like Mountain view or Sunnyvale. But those places are bigger and tend to have a more business oriented feel to them. San Carlos and Belmont are a good 15 minutes away and I think you'l like them a lot.

[DMenscha]

You should be able to find something in MP for that near downtown. My brother rented a duplex near there 10 years ago for $1800

[sonarrat]

Menlo Park, at least the western part, is a very expensive suburb with a high average income and a lot of residents have done a lifetime of saving and investing to live there or own property there. There is a high prestige factor, and if that's not important to you, then you can find options in nice parts of Redwood City that might be more appealing.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by esamer90

San Carlos is a really nice suburb, Belmont is also nice but a little bit cheaper. Redwood city is a bigger suburb and has a kinda busy downtown, but if you move to a quite neighborhood you should be fine. You can also go south to places like Mountain view or Sunnyvale. But those places are bigger and tend to have a more business oriented feel to them. San Carlos and Belmont are a good 15 minutes away and I think you'l like them a lot.

1+

What he said

[familymovewest]

Thanks everyone! Re: San Carlos, Belmont, and Redwood City, are there particular neighborhoods we should check out? We'll be there next week on a scouting trip, so I'm trying to narrow down the list of places we visit. Thanks again.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by familymovewest

Thanks everyone! Re: San Carlos, Belmont, and Redwood City, are there particular neighborhoods we should check out? We'll be there next week on a scouting trip, so I'm trying to narrow down the list of places we visit. Thanks again.

Most anything west of El Camino Real (Hwy 82) is good. The area along the train tracks east to Hwy 101 freeway is not as good and much of it is commercial. East Redwood City along Middlefield Rd is mostly Hispanic and sketchy. Check out San Carlos first. Lots of apt. buildings within walking distance of the downtown area and the train station as well as nearby parks and a library. I think you will like it.

[esamer90]

Originally Posted by familymovewest

Thanks everyone! Re: San Carlos, Belmont, and Redwood City, are there particular neighborhoods we should check out? We'll be there next week on a scouting trip, so I'm trying to narrow down the list of places we visit. Thanks again.

Anywhere west of the el camino. But San Carlos and Belmont don't have an east. Thats how nice they are. The higher you go up the hill, the more expensive it gets. Belmont has a lot of apartments and nice small simple houses. But San Carlos is a real charm. Very family friendly, conservative atmosphere. And San Carlos has a real nice downtown to do all your local shopping. Belmont doesn't really have a down town. Just a few stores. But either is good for raising a family. My sister is in San Carlos and sends her kids to the catholic school there. Her and her husband love it. Red wood city has nice neighborhoods on the west side, but kinda has an "eh.." feel to it. Its lacks the small town personality that the other 2 have. And the east side is kind of rough. But whatever you find will be good. The peninsula is a real nice area. And even though were close to San Francisco, we have a very different vibe here. One of the greatest suburbs to raise a family.

[jaypee]

I lived in Redwood City, Belmont, and San Mateo and I like the Belmont hills area the best because it is lush,full of trees, and less sub-urban.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by familymovewest

Thanks everyone! Re: San Carlos, Belmont, and Redwood City, are there particular neighborhoods we should check out? We'll be there next week on a scouting trip, so I'm trying to narrow down the list of places we visit. Thanks again.

Redwood City: look at the neighborhood centered around Orchard Avenue between Woodside Rd and Selby Ln. You can rent houses in your price range and it's a decent neighborhood fine for families.

Also I actually would second jaypee's opinion about Belmont. I actually had the same impression when we were looking at apartments for rent up there.